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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS25
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax MX-1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the ZS20 (14MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the ZS20 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS20 was brought out 14 months earlier than the MX-1 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a simple view of how the ZS20 scores versus the MX-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Pentax MX-1

 ZS20 MX-1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic ZS20

 MX-1 ZS20 
RevealedJuly 2013April 2012Newer by 14 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax MX-1

 ZS20 MX-1 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS20 has got external measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the ZS20 vs the MX-1.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS20 and MX-1 is 92 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by checking a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS20 and MX-1.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS20 due to its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic ZS20 will give greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged ZS20 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
30
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
42
manual focus
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Street photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Street photography advice
65
image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
lighter than others (206 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than average (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (260 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery (290 CIPA)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than others (206 grams)
includes focus by touch
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (260 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
61
better than average battery (290 CIPA)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (391g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography details
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography details
42
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery life (260 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
55
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (290 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging factors
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging factors
34
decently wide (24mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (206g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic socket
33
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
heavier than average (391g)
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Pentax MX-1
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-04-26 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206g (0.45 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 260 shots 290 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $349 $400